Apache Review

Whether you're a serious armchair pilot or an arcade maniac who likes to blow the hell out of anything and everything in existence, Apache is the game for you. This helicopter combat simulation throws you in the cockpit of the Apache attack chopper and lets you duke it out in four different theaters: Fort Hood, Cyprus, Yemen, or Korea. In Fort Hood, you will learn the basics of helicopter combat. The other areas are full combat arenas where your training will pay off. In Apache, you can choose to fly single missions or opt for a full campaign in any of the three combat regions. A variety of mission types—ranging from escort to search and destroy sorties—can be flown in varied weather conditions and at different times, even at night. Apache looks great throughout, featuring graphics that accurately portray the surroundings without ever sacrificing system speed. Apache's gameplay is enhanced by a switch that allows players to toggle between a realistic flight model and an arcade mode. This feature lets gamers who want the thrill of low altitude destruction to jump into the cockpit and, within minutes, start filling the skies with hot lead and missiles. The realistic flight mode gives serious pilots the accuracy they crave, and is based in part on the flight experience of actual helicopter pilots. Other treats included in the game are an amazing multi-player option (up to 16 players can duke it out simultaneously), brilliant sound effects, and gorgeous external views. Apache does have a few flaws: loading times between screens are too long; and the minimum installation occupies over 25 megabytes of hard drive space. These minor problems, however, are hardly worth complaining about in light of the overall quality of Apache, one of the finest helicopter simulations ever made.